Best of the Week: Green Solvent Selection, Research Funding, Innovations in LC

This week, LCGC International published a variety of articles on hot topics in separation science. From a feature article on about the latest challenges in U.S. research funding to an article that recaps the latest HPLC products sent to market this year, we remain dedicated to sharing the latest in chromatographic advancements. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles that were published this week.

Funding Fallout: Navigating the New Reality of U.S. Science Support

Earlier this year, sweeping federal budget cuts driven by the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) changed U.S. research funding, bringing about cost savings but also uncertainty. The National Institute of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have had their budgets slashed by up to 55% (1). The reductions have frozen grants, halted projects, and jeopardized job security for students, postdocs, and staff. Scientists are concerned that short-term, commercially driven research may replace long-term exploration, which could have negative downstream effects in public health and environmental monitoring (1). Institutions are cutting scope, delaying upgrades, and seeking industry partnerships, but collaborative initiatives are at risk. Similar funding pressures abroad suggest a global erosion of scientific capacity, threatening innovation and long-term problem-solving (1).

Solvent Selection from the Green Perspective

Analytical chemists are increasingly considering sustainability, yet traditional organic solvents remain prevalent in practice. In this “Sample Preparation Perspectives” column from Doug Raynie and Mary Ellen McNally, they discuss how green solvent selection guides, such as CHEM21, evaluate solvents based on environmental, health, and safety criteria (2). The CHEM21 guide aligns with the Global Harmonization System and is endorsed by professional groups like the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute (2). Despite awareness, many chemists are reluctant to switch to nontraditional solvents, highlighting the need for effective green solvent selection tools.

Innovations in Liquid Chromatography: 2025 HPLC Column and Accessories Review

In this recent “Column Watch” column, columnist Dave Bell discusses some of the latest high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns and accessories that have entered the market over the past year, highlighting the current trends in this space (3). Bell details how new LC columns are focusing on small-molecule reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), with advances in particle bonding and hardware technology enhancing peak shapes and column efficiency. Inert hardware trends continue, improving analyte recovery and reducing metal interactions, particularly for phosphorylated and metal-sensitive compounds (3). Specialized columns for oligonucleotides and viral vectors are developed, utilizing modern particle technology and inert hardware for improved separation quality (3). Innovations in size-exclusion, ion-exchange, chiral, and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) reflect a shift towards specialized solutions, with a focus on green and sustainable analytical workflows.

Flame Ionization Detector (FID) Explained: How to Optimize Sensitivity, Troubleshoot Baselines, and Master Gas Chromatography

This explainer video, based on John Hinshaw’s LCGC North America article, takes an in-depth look at the flame ionization detector (FID), a cornerstone of gas chromatography (GC). Beyond its reputation for reliability, the explainer reveals the inner workings of the FID from effluent combustion and ion creation to amplification of currents as small as trillionths of an amp (4). It emphasizes optimization strategies, including precise hydrogen flow rates (30–45 mL/min) and maintaining a 10:1 air-to-hydrogen ratio, while addressing the influence of flame jet design and gas purity (4). Practical troubleshooting advice helps diagnose noise, ignition failures, and signal loss. Ultimately, mastering FID optimization enhances chromatographic sensitivity, stability, and control.

Non-Invasive Detection of Parkinson’s Disease: VOC Profiling Using Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are promising non-invasive biomarkers for early Parkinson's disease detection, offering sensitivity to physiological changes. GC–MS is the gold standard for VOC analysis, but challenges in sample preparation and standardization persist. A recent review article written by researchers at Imperial College London (United Kingdom) explored this topic, focusing on the potential of volatile organic compounds VOCs as early, non-invasive biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition that currently lacks reliable diagnostic tools for early-stage detection (5). LCGC International spoke to Ilaria Belluomo of Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London and lead author of the review, about how chromatography and mass spectrometry played a part in the team’s research (5).

References

1. Jones, K. Funding Fallout: Navigating the New Reality of U.S. Science Support. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/funding-fallout-navigating-the-new-reality-of-u-s-science-support (accessed 2025-08-21).
2. Rayne, D. E.; McNally, M. E. Solvent Selection from the Green Perspective. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/solvent-selection-from-the-green-perspective (accessed 2025-08-21).
3. Bell, D. S. Innovations in Liquid Chromatography: 2025 HPLC Column and Accessories Review. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/innovations-in-liquid-chromatography-2025-hplc-column-and-accessories-review (accessed 2025-08-21).
4. Hroncich, C. Flame Ionization Detector (FID) Explained: How to Optimize Sensitivity, Troubleshoot Baselines, and Master Gas Chromatography. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/flame-ionization-detector-fid-explained-how-to-optimize-sensitivity-troubleshoot-baselines-and-master-gas-chromatography (accessed 2025-08-21).
5. Chasse, J. Non-Invasive Detection of Parkinson’s Disease: VOC Profiling Using Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/non-invasive-detection-of-parkinson-s-disease-voc-profiling-using-chromatography-and-mass-spectrometry (accessed 2025-08-21).